Archive for the ‘acupuncture’ Category

Other Treatments For Chronic Tension Headache

Saturday, March 7th, 2009

Cognitive behaviour therapy is a talking treatment. It can be used to help people cope with stress. If your tension headaches are triggered by stress, therapy could help you feel better. There hasn’t been much research, but one study found that about a third of people who had therapy got fewer or less severe headaches over six months.

Relaxation training and biofeedback are used to teach you how to relax the muscles of your head and neck. The idea is that learning to relax relieves the tension that might be triggering your headaches. In biofeedback, you wear an electrical device that tells you how tense your muscles are. When you relax, you get a signal, such as a beep. Eventually, you learn to relax by yourself.

You won’t have to take any drugs, but relaxation and biofeedback take up a lot of time. And there hasn’t been much research to say whether they work.

Acupuncture is an ancient Chinese treatment. In this treatment, a trained acupuncturist puts thin, sterile needles into your skin. Some people try acupuncture because they don’t want to take medicines. But the research on this treatment isn’t good enough to say whether it works.

What will happen to me?

Tension headaches are usually fairly mild. But if they happen a lot, they may interfere with your work or your social life. Getting treatment can help.

Tension headaches tend to happen less often as people get older.

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Acupuncture and Headaches

Monday, February 16th, 2009

The Daily Telegraph reported today that “even ‘fake’ acupuncture reduces the severity of headaches and migraines”. It said that a major review of acupuncture studies has found that the treatment can help people who suffer from headache and migraine, “even when the needles are put in the ‘wrong’ place”. It said that the success of both traditional and ‘sham’ acupuncture suggested a strong placebo effect.

This thorough systematic review looked at acupuncture used for preventing tension headache or migraine. Acupuncture was found to reduce the frequency of headaches compared to taking no preventative measures (such as drugs or relaxation techniques). The review also found that traditional and sham acupuncture seemed to have the same success in preventing the onset of migraines.

These results suggest that acupuncture can potentially reduce the frequency of migraine or tension headaches. However, a systematic review is subject to the quality of the studies that it looks at, and these studies were of varying quality. Additionally, the review does not suggest that acupuncture is better than medicine at treating attacks, and there is limited evidence comparing acupuncture to preventive medicines.

Where did the story come from?

Klaus Linde from the University of Munich, Germany and colleagues from universities and medical centres in Italy, the US and UK carried out the research. The work was published as two papers – Acupuncture for Migraine Prophylaxis and Acupuncture for Tension-Type Headache – in the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews.

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Is Curing Your Headache With Acupuncture All In The Mind?

Sunday, February 15th, 2009

Many swear it is as powerful as any headache pill – but the benefits of acupuncture could be all in the mind. Researchers have found a fake treatment is as good as the real thing at relieving the pain of headaches. An analysis of dozens of studies involving almost 7,000 men and women showed the ancient Chinese art to be better than tablets at warding off migraines.

However, fake treatments, in which the needles were placed randomly on the skin, were just as effective at stopping migraines – and almost as good at preventing tension headaches. The findings suggest many of the benefits of acupuncture are in the mind.

Researchers say it is likely patients benefit from the “placebo effect”, in which care, attention and the simple belief the treatment will work, lead to improvements in health. The analysis, published in the respected Cochrane Library’s science review, is far from the first to cast doubts on the validity of the multi million-pound acupuncture industry.

For instance, recent research has shown that acupuncture does nothing to boost a woman’s chances of having a baby through IVF – and may even cut her odds of becoming a mother. However, other studies have proclaimed it to be effective.

In order to establish whether acupuncture helps prevent headaches, the German researchers combined the results of 33 clinical trials involving 6,736 patients. The men and women were treated for at least eight weeks in order to evaluate acupuncture’s ability to ease tension headaches or the more severe but less frequent migraines.

Some were treated with normal acupuncture, in which needles are inserted at specific ‘energy points’ in the skin. Others had a sham procedure, with the needles inserted at other points. The analysis showed the fake acupuncture to be just as good as the real thing at preventing migraines and almost as good at stopping tension headaches.

Researcher Dr Klaus Linde, from the Centre for Complementary Medicine Research at the Technical University of Munich, said: ‘The studies suggest that migraine patients benefit from acupuncture, although the correct placement of needles seems to be less relevant than is usually thought by acupuncturists.

Much of the clinical benefit of acupuncture might be due to nonspecific needling effects and powerful placebo effects, meaning the selection of specific needle points may be less important than many practitioners have traditionally argued.

But, with the studies also showing acupuncture to be better than drugs at controlling migraines, the researchers said patients should have access to the treatment.

Dr Linde said: “Doctors need to know how long improvements associated with acupuncture will last and whether better-trained acupuncturists really achieve better results than those with basic training only”

Dr Mike Cummings, medical director off the British Medical Acupuncture Society, said: “We certainly don’t call what we do a “sham” procedure, as we believe there is growing evidence for a mechanism behind what we do”

However, we still don’t fully understand what is happening when needles are inserted, although these reviews suggest that for certain conditions, it is effective.

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Headache Treatment Options For Quick Headache Relief

Thursday, February 5th, 2009

Everyone gets a headache from time to time. Some get them more often than others do. There are several different types of headache and there are many factors that can trigger the onset of a headache. Some medications even list “headache” as a side affect. Some headaches can be the side affects of a more serious medical problem.

Most people with ‘tension’ headaches respond to self treatment very well. Migraine and cluster headaches should be referred to a healthcare professional. However, the most common form of headaches (tension type) are very self treatable. For patients with sinus headaches, decongestants and analgesics (tynelol) relieve the pain.

Frequent headaches that last for weeks or months may be a sign of a more serious condition. Headache treatment in these situations may revolve around diagnosing a more serious issue. Headaches that occur constantly and at random may signal a more serious issue at work. This kind of headache, known as a secondary headache, can signify internal bleeding, tumour growth, or chemical imbalances.

Cox-2 inhibitors

While These drugs Are Similar to NSAIDs, they work differently and have fewer side effects. Medications such as Celebrex, Vioxx and Excedrine are most helpful in treating chronic daily headache when combined with other preventive medications. Typically, they are prescribed for one or two months if you are withdrawing from pain relief medications, to help decrease the frequency and severity of rebound headaches.

Peel a piece of garlic. Put it in the mouth and chew it slightly. Let its juices spread around the mouth region and upwards into the head. Keep on chewing the garlic mildly and allow the juices to spread. Within some minutes the headache would disappear. This treatment works even for the most persistent of headaches.

For headaches that are caused due to common colds, drinking a decoction of coriander and sugar helps tremendously. One more method to clear common cold related headaches is to place both feet in warm water for about half an hour.

Anti-inflammatories may be more effective than paracetamol for some people.Taking a painkiller such as paracetamol usually works well to relieve a tension-type headache. It is best to take a full dose as soon as a headache starts, a second dose can be taken after 4 hours if necessary. Headaches that are caused by brain tumors, post-injury hematomas, dental problems, or disorders affecting the spinal disks usually require surgical treatment.

Hypnosis

There is nothing to be alarmed about hypnosis headache treatment. There are likely to be no side effects, in this therapy. But success depends to a large extent on the responsiveness of an individual. Many compare hypnosis with relaxation therapy.

Avoid all harmful articles of diet. Herbal laxatives initially, to cleanse the colon, may be helpful in bilious headaches. Often the stomach is overloaded when the headache comes on. If this is the case use an emetic.

Acupuncture Therapy

Another therapy doing the most accepted rounds in the headache circles is Acupuncture Therapy. It is believed to be very effective in tension-type headaches and migraines. The needles used in the therapy deal with your nervous system directly.

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Acupuncture Can Ease Headaches

Tuesday, February 3rd, 2009

Acupuncture may control headaches. So may randomly sticking needles in your body, say two new analyses by The Cochrane Collaboration, a British group that reviews science.

The new studies are meta-analyses, which lump together previously published trials to analyze larger numbers and reach firmer conclusions. The new reviews looked at studies testing whether acupuncture can ease regular “tension” headaches and ones studying migraine treatment.

Migraine sufferers who had at least eight weeks of acupuncture had fewer attacks than patients who only took pain-killing drugs. But the acupuncture treatments were no better than “placebo” treatments that involved needles being inserted randomly into patients, not placed in highly precise spots dictated by acupuncture theory.

For tension headaches, acupuncture was better than drugs and slightly better than fake treatments.

“Much of the clinical benefit of acupuncture might be due to non-specific needling effects and powerful placebo effects, meaning selection of specific needle points may be less important than many practitioners have traditionally argued,” said the lead researcher on both studies, Klaus Linde.

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How To Ease Your Pregnancy Headaches

Thursday, January 29th, 2009

* Reduce stress.
* Get more sleep.
* Treat your early morning sickness.
* Eat regularly to avoid low blood sugar levels.
* Drink adequate amounts of high quality water.
* Get chiropractic adjustments and advice to correct your posture.
* Avoid over the counter medication especially during the first 12 weeks of pregnancy.
* Consult a homeopath or an acupuncturist for treatments to relieve your pain.

Pregnancy headaches are sometimes relieved with either hot or cold compress around your forehead and on the back of your neck.

Have someone massage your shoulders and neck during acute pregnancy headaches.

* Rest in a dark room and practice deep relaxation breathing.
* Relaxing in a warm bath or shower sometimes reduces the stress and tension.

The fruit mangosteen is well known to support every system in the body. It is all natural and can relieve and prevent pregnancy headaches.

You tried all the above and you still have a pregnancy headache:

At this point it would be appropriate to call your doctor or midwife for advice.

Have your eyesight checked as you may need glasses or a change in glasses.

If you experience any of these symptoms below with a headache call your physician or midwife immediately as these are signs of a severe pregnancy complication called pre-eclampsia:

* Blurred vision
* Right sided abdomen pain
* Swollen hands and face
* Sudden weight gain
* Feeling very agitated or restless

Pregnancy headaches can be very painful and very frustrating, as it is not recommended that you use over the counter medication during pregnancy. I have assisted pregnant women in the past to make their headaches a little more manageable or made them go away with a one on one coaching-healing phone sessions.

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Alternative Headache and Migraine Remedies

Thursday, November 6th, 2008

Acupuncture

More and more people are benefiting from the Asian tradition of acupuncture. These days, trained doctors, physiotherapists, and/or nurses can administer this therapy. Tiny sterile needles are positioned into the skin at specific points in the body, according to the illness; needles are positioned uniquely for migraine headaches. “Western” acupuncture uses the above-trained professionals, but migraine suffers can also seek “traditional”, or Eastern acupuncture, which is administered by a trained acupuncturist.

Relaxation

This therapy is simple and autonomous: no need for outside manipulation or treatment! It includes the practices of deep breathing, yoga, tai chi, muscle relaxation, and meditation. Whatever helps you relax can work. You can also try positive visualization (thinking of something that makes you happy) or lying quietly and still for a while. Self-hypnosis, or deep relaxation, can be learned to provide this same benefit.

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Alternative Headache and Migraine Remedies

Monday, November 3rd, 2008

Acupuncture

More and more people are benefiting from the Asian tradition of acupuncture. These days, trained doctors, physiotherapists, and/or nurses can administer this therapy. Tiny sterile needles are positioned into the skin at specific points in the body, according to the illness; needles are positioned uniquely for migraine headaches. “Western” acupuncture uses the above-trained professionals, but migraine suffers can also seek “traditional”, or Eastern acupuncture, which is administered by a trained acupuncturist.

Relaxation

This therapy is simple and autonomous: no need for outside manipulation or treatment! It includes the practices of deep breathing, yoga, tai chi, muscle relaxation, and meditation. Whatever helps you relax can work. You can also try positive visualization (thinking of something that makes you happy) or lying quietly and still for a while. Self-hypnosis, or deep relaxation, can be learned to provide this same benefit.

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Natural Headache Remedies

Friday, October 17th, 2008

Many of us may be too dependent on over-the-counter painkillers to treat the occasional headache, especially given the side effects of such drugs. Ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) can increase the risk of heart and circulation problems — including heart attack and stroke — and is also tough on the digestive tract. Too much acetaminophen (Tylenol) has been linked to nausea, diarrhea, and kidney and liver problems. Many natural health care practitioners disparage drugs for merely masking the symptoms of larger problems.

All headaches are not the same and gobbling down pain pills will not address the causes, whatever they may be. Some headaches are caused by tension; others stem from sinus congestion, caffeine withdrawal, constipation, food allergies, spinal misalignment or lack of sleep. And then there are migraines, which researchers think are neurological in nature: The brain fails to constrict the nerve pathways that open the arteries to the brain, resulting in a pounding headache as blood flows in unchecked. Assessing what kind of headache you may have can help lead the way to a solution beyond deadening the pain with a pill.

To make tension headaches go away, the Farmers’ Almanac recommends applying an ice pack to the neck and upper back, or, even better, getting someone to massage those areas. Also, soaking the feet in hot water can divert blood from your head to your feet, easing any kind of headache pain in the process.

Another all-natural headache cure is acupressure (like acupuncture, but without the needles), which promotes healing throughout the body by stimulating channels of energy known as meridians. Victoria Abreo, alternative medicine editor for the website BellaOnline, says that anyone suffering from a tension headache can employ a simple acupressure technique to help relieve the pain: “With one hand, press the shallow indention in the back of the head at the base of the skull. Simultaneously, with the thumb and forefinger of the other hand, press firmly into the upper hollows of the eye sockets, right where they straddle the bridge of the nose and meet the ‘t’ of the eyebrow bridge.” She says to press softy at first, and then more firmly, holding for three to five minutes.

As for migraines, avoiding certain trigger foods might be key to staving them off. Abreo says migraine sufferers should try steering clear of dairy products, processed meat, red wine, caffeine and chocolate. New research has shown that some people with specific dietary deficiencies are more prone to migraines.

According to Dr. Linda White, who writes about natural health for Mother Earth News, some recent clinical trials have shown three nutritional supplements—magnesium, riboflavin and coenzyme Q10—to be particularly effective at reducing the frequency and severity of migraines. Also, a number of herbs—including feverfew, butterbur, lavender, gingko biloba, rosemary and chamomile—have proven track records in preventing or stopping migraines. Since herbs can be potent and are not regulated or tested, headache sufferers should consult a trusted doctor or naturopath before using alternative remedies.

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Acupuncture For Migraine And Sinus Headaches

Friday, September 19th, 2008

If you suffer from headaches ? whether they be migraine or sinus headaches ? you might automatically think of popping a pill. But for a more natural remedy — and one that?s gaining momentum all the time — think about acupuncture for sinus headache migrains.

The thought of acupuncture makes many people cringe. But the art and craft of acupuncture is gaining popularity among people who don?t want to take pain pills or other drugs, but who are looking for natural, pure remedies.

Simply put, acupuncture is the delicate insertion of very thin needles at various points on the body to relieve pain or promote healing. Relief of sinus, tension and migraine headaches is a common impetus for acupuncture treatment, but it?s used for a variety of other needs, including healing after injury, relief from the pain and discomfort of chemotherapy, and a variety of other ailments and illnesses.

It?s believed that inserting the needles at specific points in the body realigns the body?s electrical fields which helps to relieve pain or promote the healing necessary for recovery from injury or disease.

As for headaches, the use of acupuncture is gaining in popularity thanks both to the acceptance the practice is gaining in traditional circles, and reports that the practice is effective in relieving headache pain.

A recent study showed that the use of acupuncture was effective in relieving the pain of migraine headaches but experts aren?t exactly sure why. They say it?s possible acupuncture has a ?placebo? effect, where the patient believes the treatment will help and so it does, without much medical basis for the benefit or relief.

Others say acupuncture works for migraine and sinus headaches because the acupuncture needles are inserted specifically to re-channel the body?s energy fields and produce a biochemical change in the body?s blood serum.

If you suffer from sinus or migraine headaches, you know that pain relief in the form of a pill can work. But after four or six hours, the pain returns and you return to the medicine cabinet for another ?hit? of the pain-relieving drug. Experts say that the use of acupuncture reduces your dependence on pain-relief drugs, whether they are addictive or not. Over time such drugs can cause liver or kidney damage, or ulcers. If you need medication from your doctor, the drugs can become addictive as well.

If you have long suffered from sinus or migraine headaches you might have turned to the use of steroid injections for relief. But these can very painful (unlike acupuncture, which most users report is painless) and if used for a long period of time can cause life-threatening side effects.

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